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childofmongreldogs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My first reading was definitely a more enjoyable experience. (Enjoyable in the sense that I didn't see some of the more flagrant flaws in the writing as opposed to the content matter which is mostly unenjoyable and pretty bleak.)
There are some questions, though. While the boy's age isn't really stated, he seems to be very young in the ways in which he interacts with the world. It makes me wonder about what the world was like when he was small. He clearly understood how bleak everything was (the one question about his mother's disappearance) but he also seemed remarkably sheltered in other ways. The absence of most punctuation lacks clarity in a way that is more confusing than poignant. I will also say that it felt like none of this book was planned. Things happen, the characters react or underreact. There seems to be no direction. I don't know if it's reading into it to say that that might have been intentional since the two of them are wandering aimlessly with no plans beyond survival.
I still like The Road, however; I found that the minimalist way that it's been written really adds to the ambiance. There's a certain void to it, an empty flatness, that's reinforced by the stark punctuation and dialogue between the man and the boy. The stark contrast between the emptiness of the narrative that's pretty much void of description and the "purple prose" that seems to originate from a different perspective was an interesting choice. I actually enjoyed the characters and thought they did have a very strong personality between the two of them though I noticed some reviewers didn't see that.
Overall, lovely prose, painful emotions, and a heartbreaking ending that leaves the reader with the same sense of mystery made it a lovely read for me. I liked that the questions remained unasked and the novel refused to answer them.
There are some questions, though. While the boy's age isn't really stated, he seems to be very young in the ways in which he interacts with the world. It makes me wonder about what the world was like when he was small. He clearly understood how bleak everything was (the one question about his mother's disappearance) but he also seemed remarkably sheltered in other ways. The absence of most punctuation lacks clarity in a way that is more confusing than poignant. I will also say that it felt like none of this book was planned. Things happen, the characters react or underreact. There seems to be no direction. I don't know if it's reading into it to say that that might have been intentional since the two of them are wandering aimlessly with no plans beyond survival.
I still like The Road, however; I found that the minimalist way that it's been written really adds to the ambiance. There's a certain void to it, an empty flatness, that's reinforced by the stark punctuation and dialogue between the man and the boy. The stark contrast between the emptiness of the narrative that's pretty much void of description and the "purple prose" that seems to originate from a different perspective was an interesting choice. I actually enjoyed the characters and thought they did have a very strong personality between the two of them though I noticed some reviewers didn't see that.
Overall, lovely prose, painful emotions, and a heartbreaking ending that leaves the reader with the same sense of mystery made it a lovely read for me. I liked that the questions remained unasked and the novel refused to answer them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
clarissajs's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
0.5
I wasn't really sure how to rate this one. I finished it, fairly quickly too, so I must have enjoyed it to some degree. Although, it was a short story and it didn't have any chapters or sections, so maybe it didn't take long for that reason.
I didn't find myself unable to put it down or impatient to get back to it. I think I just wanted to finish it so I could start a new book. I said to my partner last night that "I kept waiting for them to explain what happened leading up to this story, by the time I realised that wasn't going to happen, I had less than 100 pages left and thought I may as well finish it."
It was short, continuous and repetitive. You don't find out much about anything, the plot and characters are like poorly kept secrets, that you only get little bits of through the book. Overall, I would rate it as okay. I wouldn't recommend it.
This story could've been something amazing, it could have been a political statement on climate change or something (the world literally burnt). Instead, it left a lot to question and even more to our imaginations.
I didn't find myself unable to put it down or impatient to get back to it. I think I just wanted to finish it so I could start a new book. I said to my partner last night that "I kept waiting for them to explain what happened leading up to this story, by the time I realised that wasn't going to happen, I had less than 100 pages left and thought I may as well finish it."
It was short, continuous and repetitive. You don't find out much about anything, the plot and characters are like poorly kept secrets, that you only get little bits of through the book. Overall, I would rate it as okay. I wouldn't recommend it.
This story could've been something amazing, it could have been a political statement on climate change or something (the world literally burnt). Instead, it left a lot to question and even more to our imaginations.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, and Cannibalism
Minor: Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Cannibalism